House Before and After: Kitchen Remodel

I am among the believers that the kitchen is the central point of the home! The kitchen tends to be the primary gathering spot and due to the fact that I love to entertain and my husband is a fabulous cook our home search required a large kitchen. We made the mistake of looking at model homes in our initial search which left me desiring the newly popular 'great room' style. The great room combines multiple spaces into a singular unified space (ie. kitchen flows into the dining room and the living room). The moment we walked into our current home I immediately envisioned the removal of the wall between the kitchen and dining room in order to create this open great room feeling. It went from a "want" to a "need" once we closed escrow :). After all our hard labor and DIY projects my husband and I decided that this would not be a project we would take on ourselves. After interviewing a few different contractors we settled on one which turned out to be a disastrous. Because I am from the school of thought that it is impossible to find a reliable contractor, I think I set myself up for failure. All said and done the window between our kitchen and dining room turned out great and was worth the 7 day turned 7 week project! Here are the before, during, and after shots of the kitchen. Keep in mind that this is still a work in progress and I welcome any suggestions on what to do for kitchen window coverings and any other ideas.

Before...

This house was a foreclosure and the previous owner took his beautiful 48 in range. After a 2 month search we found this GE monogram range with a double oven, grill, griddle and 4 burners at a reasonable price. We LOVE it!!! We struggled with what to do for the back splash behind this gorgeous stove. We settled on this marble brick looking back splash and took on the project ourselves. I learned to tile, grout and seal the grout. It is much harder than it looks, but super rewarding when it was all done!

After some painting and installation of appliances but before Construction...

During Construction...

The construction involved moving the refrigerator to where the desk used to be, extending the granite and adding cabinets where the refrigerator used to be, moving the plumbing for the refrigerator to the new location, moving electrical, adding a wine cabinet, making a granite step-up bar bar on the dining room side of the window, arching the window and the doorway to match, custom cabinets to frame the refrigerator where the desk used to be and a little painting to finish the job. Here are the photos!

After...

Happy Thursday!!!

House Before and After...Deck

It's that time again...I needed my creative outlet back! We FINALLY got around to having a housewarming and have spent the last few months transforming various areas of our home. In celebration of our hard work I plan to show the before and after photos of the house for the next few weeks.

This is the backyard deck with the infamous jacuzzi where we have spent numerous nights relaxing. In typical husband fashion, Chad went to Lowe's and purchased a wood stain to paint the jacuzzi paneling. He painted about 2 panels and got distracted leaving me to finish off the project :). I spent an entire day staining the wood but was very pleased with the end result. In hindsight we would have picked a darker gray color rather than the green/gray that we ended up with :). Chad power washed the deck and it went from a grayish color back to its original tan. Then I finished it off with the purchase and assembly of these beachy adirondack gray chairs, side table and outdoor pillows with a hint of yellow!

Before...

After...

Happy Sunday!!!

Monday Mood Modifier

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved"

-Helen Keller

Start living today! Rather than wallowing in your misery begin by doing one thing per day that helps strengthen your soul!!!

Happy Monday!!!

 (Image via travel.talk.teach)

Our Dining Room

Although I may not be a design pro, I have found it extremely therapeutic to piece together various rooms in our new home. In our dining room I was going for a rustic beach look. This is what I created and how it stands before the upcoming kitchen remodel (window coverings to come...)


  

(Images via traveltalkteach)

Happy Friday!!!

Forgive Yourself Today ♥

"When you hold onto the past with bitterness and anger and don't allow yourself to experience the present moment, you are wasting today. If you hold onto bitterness and grudges for a long time, it has to do with forgiving yourself, not the other person. If you hold onto old hurts, you punish yourself in the here and now. Often, you sit in a prison of self-righteous resentment. Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy? Forgive yourself and stop punishing yourself."- Author Unknown

Happy Thursday!!!

Monday Mood Modifier

Everyone needs live plants in their home and most importantly a money tree. The braided money tree is a fixture of Feng Shui and symbolizes good fortune. For those like myself that lack the "green thumb" this is the perfect starter plant because it is difficult to kill and requires little water :). Not only are live plants beautiful, research has shown that they have healing powers. Studies on hospital patients found that patients exposed to live plants experienced a decrease in blood pressure, reduction in stress and reduced muscle tension. Additionally, patients were found to have a quicker recovery and needed less pain medication when they had a view of greenery and plants. Brilliant!

Here are some photos of my money tree and a succulent that I received as a housewarming gift:

(Money Tree from Ikea)

Happy Monday!!!

Aquarium Therapy

Need a new way to help reduce stress and anxiety??? Head to your local Petco with a few dollars in hand and invest in some fish! Studies have revealed that simply watching fish swim in an aquarium can help reduce blood pressure, stress, anxiety and increase ones' ability to relax. Furthermore, research on Alzheimer's patients who were exposed to aquaria were shown to need fewer nutritional supplements than those patients who were not exposed. Fascinating huh?

These little creatures not only have significant health benefits, they also add unbelievable colors and aesthetic value to your home. For a grand total of $12 I got a beautiful glass fish bowl, a turquoise Beta fish (to match my color scheme), turquoise and blue gravel and some fish food! I named my fish "Vida" with the intention of getting his sister "Pura" as in "Pura Vida". Unfortunately Beta's are fighter fish that need their own territory so Pura will have to have her own bowl or wait until the hubby builds a divider for Vida's bowl. Vida lives in his little bowl on our entry table:

Happy Sunday Funday!!!!

This is why I love traveling...

China never ceases to amaze me...

http://www.wimp.com/vegetablemarket/

These are some photos of my drive through Guatemala with a similarly absurd highway setup. The local market is so important that they only leave room for one car to drive through the center of it at a time :)...

Are you puzzled about why you are cranky???

This article provides a great reminder about things you can do to avoid those unbearable moods and crankiness.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/healthieryou/6-surprising-reasons-cranky

Happy Sunday!!!

Secrets to Increasing Your Energy...

Here is some fabulous and extremely helpful advice from my talented friend and guest blogger...Paula Ryan, MS, RD. Miss Paula tailored this blog entry to me and my lack of energy :) Please contact her for your own personalized health advice!

Find the Energy you need to make it through the Day

Paula Ryan, MS, RD

Healthiest Regards

Does your workday feel like a Sprint Triathlon, rushing from one event to the next? Are you exhausted half way through the day? Here are some tips that will get you to that end-of-the-day finish line.

Get enough sleep

How many hours of sleep do you need to feel refreshed and ready to go in the morning? I need 8 1/2. Some need more, some need less. Be honest with yourself and get the rest you need.

Don't go Crazy with Caffeine

Too much caffeine in the morning can result in an energy "crash" a few hours later. Limit your coffee consumption to 1 or 2 cups in the morning, or switch to tea which usually has a little bit less caffeine per cup.

Exercise

Whether it's in the morning before work, at lunch, or after work, exercise is a must. The health benefits related to exercise seem endless. You'll feel better when  you are done;  you will be proud of yourself for your accomplishments.  Find the time; it's on your list of things to do; it's THAT important.

Eat small meals frequently

 Don't get too hungry or too full. Eat every couple of hours.  Each snack or meal should be made up of whole grains (complex carbohydrates), a lean or low-fat protein, and a fruit or vegetable serving.

Don't Skip a Meal

Your body needs energy to function. If it doesn't get the fuel it needs, you may begin to feel drained as your body searches for energy to use to get through the day. Skipping meals may also lead to unhealthy snacking or overindulging at your next meal.

Drink your fluids

Have some water available at your desk. Limit your soda and juice consumption. Even a small amount of dehydration may lead to fatigue.

Take a multivitamin + minerals

Because we aren't perfect, and sometimes you won't get 100% of what you need from what you eat.

Eat the good fats, limit the bad fats

Eat foods that are low in fat and very low in saturated fats. Fish is a great source for good fats. If you don't like fish, try it again. (If you really don't like it, take a fish oil supplement.) Too much fat in one meal slows digestion and may make you feel sluggish. Stay away from too many fried foods, pick grilled or broiled instead.

For more information or for personalized nutrition advice, visit HealthiestRegards.com

Makes me Smile....

Here is something little to brighten your day!

God Bless the USA!!!

Although I have a passion for travel, there is nothing like returning to the good ole "land of the free and the home of the brave" :). Sometimes it take a little trip away from the USA to gain a true appreciation for the beauty that exists right here in my home country. Here is a little reminder...

http://oldbluewebdesigns.com/mybeautifulamerica.htm

Want to ensure a lifelong marriage of happiness???

Include you favorite furry companion on your wedding day!

Oh the joy animals can bring to your life! I am blessed to come home to the most precious form of therapy daily...my "Pretty", "Pumpkin", "Reeeeno", "Lover"....officially known as RHINO ♥

I regard this furry friend as my very own form of Xanax. Yep, no need for Xanax here because I have Rhino to lean on, pet and cuddle with when I am struggling to get through a day. Not only is he my best buddy, but he did an awesome job protecting me during our 7 month Central American adventure...
http://theburbadventure.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

Here is an excerpt from one of his "guard dog" days:

"It was during this horrendous border crossing day that my irreplaceable companionship with Rhino was solidified (yeah I know another Rhino story, but this is a good one). Up until this point on our journey I was unsure whether Rhino was simply there to look cute and play with coconuts all day or whether he was a true watch dog. At the Honduras border crossing he truly proved his worth. He and I were "watching" the burb as we do best and an older sketchy looking gentlemen walked up to the car window trying to sell me some random pieces of junk. I repeated my monotonous line of "no gracias" or no thank you for those of you who struggle with Spanish :). The scraggly looking gentlemen kept coming back over to my window and I was unsure whether he was simply trying to be nice and strike up conversation or whether he wanted something more. Rhino decided for me on the third round of window creeping when the man got a little too close. He put his front legs on the seat behind me, leaned forward in a fierce posture and barked the loudest and most ferocious bark I have ever heard. He was about 3 inches from the guys face and you should have seen him jump backwards. I was seriously proud of my little "pretty/precious" (what I call him) turned "Beast" (as Chad has always called him). Instead of telling him to stop I let him posture himself for a bit longer to scare the creeper away and it worked. I proceeded to give "Beast" a treat and a big kiss. Never underestimate a lab (see the San Blas blog entry for proof that they can and WILL bite). This is truly when Rhino became "my" dog and when I took over sole responsibility of feeding and caring for the beast :). Love him!!!"--Could you get more precious than this?

As I was finishing up my last bedside novel "Committed" (http://traveltalkteach.blogspot.com/2011/03/therapuetic-nature-of-reading.html), I was reminded of another worthy role that dogs can play..."Flower Dog" or "Ring Dog" in a wedding. And no they are not just there to look cute, they play a MAJOR role in maintaining fidelity in the future marriage. Yep, you heard that right..."In medieval wedding portraits, you will often see the image of a dog painted between the figures of a newly wed couple--the ultimate symbol of fidelity"--Elizabeth Gilbert.

This tidbit brought me back to my own wedding with "Pretty Pumpkin" right in the middle :). Is this a sign of a lifelong happy marriage??? I sure hope so!

(Image via Pat Chidester) 

Rushing down the aisle to help seal the deal :)



(Images via bluewave photo)

Happy Friday!!!

Straight No Chaser...

This is some true music therapy!!! "Straight No Chaser" is a male a cappella group with unbelievable talent and devastatingly good looks! I know I know...male and a cappella conjure up some pretty hysterical and corny images, but give them a try and I promise they will impress. These 10 talented vocalists got their start over 10 years ago in college at Indiana University. They have since reassembled and produced Billboard favorites while touring the USA. One of their more recent video's includes a blend of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" and Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole "Over the Rainbow". Due to my affinity for weddings I fell in love with this combo the minute I heard it.

Another favorite to lighten your day "Stand by me"...



and one of their originals from 1998 (listen all the way through, it's pretty hilarious)...



Do you think there is a possibility that I could get hired to be one of the back up singers humming or making the clicking noises? I think I could nail that one :)

Here is their website if you are interested in learning more:

http://www.sncmusic.com/bio/



♥ Monday Mood Modifier ♥

Make a cozy fire ♥♥♥

Sunny San Diego has been adopting some of Portland and Seattle's rainy characteristics over the past few months and I am beginning to lose my patience. I am either getting old and losing my memory or it truly has been a gloomy winter by San Diego standards. As a way to lift mood and keep warm we made a nice fire in our newly remodeled fireplace (sans the glass, oops).

Grab a cuddle buddy, some hot cocoa and a soft blanket and lay in front of the fire. Activate all of your senses and be in the moment by listening to the fire crackle, smelling the wood burning, watching the ashes illuminate, tasting the sweet hot cocoa on your lips and feeling the warmth of the heat from the flames.

Turn a gloomy rainy day into a relaxing and snug evening!

Before Pictures (this is not a joke...it was really this hideous)...

During...

Our new and improved fireplace with my favorite male model :)...

(Images via traveltalkteach)

Happy Monday!!!